Donnelly Runs for Senate, Howard Dean’s Group Calls for Afghanistan Withdrawal and More in Capital Eye Opener: May 10

Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics:

MONEYED DEMOCRAT EYES LUGAR’S SEAT: Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) on Monday announced his intention to run for U.S. Senate. He will challenge either incumbent Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) or Lugar’s primary challenger, State Treasurer Richard Mourdock.

Donnelly is a strong fund-raiser and will likely enjoy significant financial support during his campaign.

During the 2010 election cycle, Donnelly raised more than $1.7 million and spent nearly $2 million — above House averages among election winners. He received the most support from the law firm industry at more than $152,000, split between people associated with the industry and various legal political action committees.

Other notable contributors to Donnelly’s 2010 campaign include a $15,000 contribution from the United Auto WorkersPAC and $13,296 from individuals associated with Notre Dame University. Donnelly represents South Bend, Ind., where Notre Dame is located.

Unlike many other individuals running for political office, Donnelly may not be able to depend on his own wealth for campaign support. His personal financial disclosure s indicated he is worth somewhere between $40,000 and $251,000. The Center for Responsive Politics estimates that he is the 341st most wealthy member of the 435-member body.

HOWARD DEAN GROUP EYES AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL: Democracy for America, founded by former Gov. Howard Dean (D-Vt.), launched an Afghanistan withdrawal campaign on Monday, according to the Huffington Post. The organization attributed its decision to the recent death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

The Democracy for America PAC is a big player in the world of money in politics.

During the 2010 election cycle, Democracy for America raised more than $7.1 million and spent nearly $6.8 million. It doled out more than $111,000 to Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives and more than $38,000 for Senate Democrats, the Center’s research indicates.

Curiously, all seven of its Senate candidate recipients lost their 2010 elections.

“Newt Gingrich, you’re never going to be president and I have a feeling you don’t really want to be,” said actor Bill Hader’s Shepherd Smith. “Would you like to duck out early?”

“Yeah, I’d love to,” responds actor Bobby Moynihan’s Gingrich, who exits the stage but not before high-fiving the not-intentionally-comical-but-still-very-comical New York political candidate Jimmy McMillan, played by Kenan Thompson.

Instead, Newt Gingrich (the real one) is poised to announce his presidential run on Wednesday, reports Politico and other news outlets. His announcement will come via Facebook and Twitter.

“In 2006, Gingrich formed a tax-exempt political committee under section 527 of the U.S. tax code. His committee, called American Solutions for Winning the Future, has raised $52 million since its inception, including $28.2 million during 2009 and 2010,” OpenSecrets Blog reporter Michael Beckel reported in March.

His large fund-raising capability led the Wall Street Journal on Monday to characterize it as his “secret weapon.”

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